Time required: 1 Hour (8 PM-9PM)Line: Oedo line - Tochomae Station to Aoyama-itchome Station; Hanzoman Line- Aoyama-itchome Station to Shibuya stationEvery few minutes a wave of humanity flows across Shibuya Crossing. Join the masses or stand back and watch. An ideal vantage point is the bridge corridor linking Shibuya Station with the Shibuya Mark City complex.Read More

Time required: 1 Hour (8 PM-9PM)Line: Oedo line - Tochomae Station to Aoyama-itchome Station; Hanzoman Line- Aoyama-itchome Station to Shibuya stationEvery few minutes a wave of humanity flows across Shibuya Crossing. Join the masses or stand back and watch. An ideal vantage point is the bridge corridor linking Shibuya Station with the Shibuya Mark City complex.

Shibuya crossing- It is not very far from Ghinza and this is the busiest crossing in the world. There are around 3 road intersections here so many people cross at the same time. I was literally lost in the crowd when I was crossing and I felt like people would end up smashing into each other. There were people walking towards me from literally every direction. It was like one of those scenes in movies where people think its apocalypse.

After a day in ancient Japan, catapult your way back into the 21st Century by starting your second day in the district of Shibuya dodging humans at the world’s busiest crossroad, Shibuya Crossing. If it's too early for such physical contact find a spot to sit or stand and watch as the traffic lights go red and hundreds of busy commuters bolt across in every direction. You can even get a cool birds eye view of the scramble from the Shibuya Hikarie, located just East of Shibuya metro station.

One of the most exciting shopping places in Japan, everyone that visits Tokyo will surely pay a visit to this amazing district. Well known as the fashion central and an abundance of nightlife. One of the popular places here is the Shibuya 109 Building which is a must-stop for Japanese young women. Another well known place here is the Shibuya is famous for its scramble-crossing where you see thousands of people crossing this intersection at all angles. It is located in front of the famous Shibuya Station Hachikō exit. I also flew in to Japan via AirAsia X which lands at the Tokyo Haneda Airport which is much nearer than Narita. If you are visiting Tokyo, you should make it a point to visit this place to get a memorable Shibuya photo.

Visiting Japan isn’t complete without a picture with Hachiko, the very famous dog statue that is located in Shibuya. Hachiko is a very loyal dog, there’re some film about Hachiko, and I always cry when I watch Hachiko movie. It’s very sad, really. So yeah, I finally can meet Hachiko statue in person! Shibuya is also famous for its what so called “Shibuya Crossing”.
It’s located beside the Hachiko Statue.
Shibuya Crossing has five main intersections, and there’s time when the traffic lights will turn all green, and bunch of people will cross around the road. There are lots of photographers waiting for the traffic light turns green and take pictures from the top of the building next to Shibuya Crossing. Unfortunately, because I go here around 10 a.m in the morning, the crowd is not that crowded.

In one of the major fashion hubs of the world, Shibuya is reason enough to upgrade your wardrobe. One of the maddest and insanely crowded shopping districts of Tokyo, you can literally shop and drop here. Shibuya has numerous shopping centers and departmental stores like Tokyu, Shibuya Mark City, Seibu, Loft, Parco etc. It has three very famous streets, Koen Dori, Spain Slope and Center Gai. It is one such place where you would, in all probability, find the maximum number of shops and shoppers in one district, in the world.
Shibuya is also sought after for its food and nightlife. As one of the fashion centers that attracts mainly the youth, Shibuya's nightlife is quite groovy. It's a maze though, your best bet would be to ask around for a good place to hang out!

Shibuya is another district famous for its nightlife and shopping complexes. This entire shopping district filled with restaurants, bars and shops, many selling high street fashion brands, is located around the Shibuya Station, one of the busiest railway stations in Tokyo.
We had a memorable meal of steamed and fried pork dumplings (the best one's I have ever had) washed down with chilled Kirin beer at a restaurant tucked away in an alleyway in Harajuku, Shibuya.
On another night, we popped into what was clearly a local’s bar fronting as a frat house basement (or the other way around) with old school hip-hop blasting as the Australia/Japan World Cup-qualifying soccer match played on a huge screen. Dinner was being scooped out of a crock pot. Caught up in the moment, I high-fived the bartender when Japan scored a goal (sorry, Australia). A Japanese man came over and introduced himself and bought us three quick rounds of shots as the crowd sang “Happy Birthday” to one of the patrons. We would have stayed all night if only we could handle the continuous flow of hard liquor before our early-morning, three-hour train ride to Kyoto the next day.
But we slipped into the streets of Shibuya and got another surprise: throngs of tipsy Tokyoans cheering and chanting over the Japan soccer team’s tie with Australia, which qualified the team for the World Cup. Group after group skipped by and held up their hands to us for a high five, embracing us in the celebration of their sports success.

Shinjuku Neon Lights are one of the must-experience things to do when you are visiting Tokyo, Japan. The incredible district is one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo and it is also a major commercial and administrative center, housing the busiest train station in the world which is the Shinjuku Station. Can you imagine two million people use the station daily and at least 12 different lines pass through here. One could easily get lost inside the station. Anyone and everyone that visits Tokyo will at least make a stop at this unique part of Japan and as for me, my last visit here was back in 1990. You can only imagine how it was back then. On my last visit here in February 2011, it seemed like nothing had changed. Below are pictures I took while I explored this place on foot. Please click on the pictures to see in full size.
Walking around at night is probably the best way to experience Shinjuku, especially along the main roads at Kabukicho where you can get a good view of the neon lights that tantalize your eyes. Every nook and cranny was almost covered with all sorts of neon. Even walking pass lanes, you could see lights leading all the way deep into the lanes.Overall, if you like the vibrant nightlife, Shinjuku is one of the places worth exploring as they offer all kinds of shopping and entertainment. Luxury brand stores are also found around here. There are some excellent places with great Japanese food while specialty coffee cafes can be seen here too. Be careful of street promoters that approach and offer you good deals to special clubs and bars as once you are committed, you would most likely end up paying exorbitant prices. Note that various subway lines stop here but the train service stops at midnight so if you plan to stay late, you need to take a taxi back. Some of the best clubs in Tokyo are found here too.Read More

Shinjuku Neon Lights are one of the must-experience things to do when you are visiting Tokyo, Japan. The incredible district is one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo and it is also a major commercial and administrative center, housing the busiest train station in the world which is the Shinjuku Station. Can you imagine two million people use the station daily and at least 12 different lines pass through here. One could easily get lost inside the station. Anyone and everyone that visits Tokyo will at least make a stop at this unique part of Japan and as for me, my last visit here was back in 1990. You can only imagine how it was back then. On my last visit here in February 2011, it seemed like nothing had changed. Below are pictures I took while I explored this place on foot. Please click on the pictures to see in full size.
Walking around at night is probably the best way to experience Shinjuku, especially along the main roads at Kabukicho where you can get a good view of the neon lights that tantalize your eyes. Every nook and cranny was almost covered with all sorts of neon. Even walking pass lanes, you could see lights leading all the way deep into the lanes.Overall, if you like the vibrant nightlife, Shinjuku is one of the places worth exploring as they offer all kinds of shopping and entertainment. Luxury brand stores are also found around here. There are some excellent places with great Japanese food while specialty coffee cafes can be seen here too. Be careful of street promoters that approach and offer you good deals to special clubs and bars as once you are committed, you would most likely end up paying exorbitant prices. Note that various subway lines stop here but the train service stops at midnight so if you plan to stay late, you need to take a taxi back. Some of the best clubs in Tokyo are found here too.

From the Shinjuku Government Building, we go to Shinjuku to do shopping ;)
Shinjuku has Tokyu Hands, like a department store that sell anything - really, anything - and it’s really complete. You can spot a lot of interesting yet unique products here. My friends and I spent a lot of time here. After we go around Tokyu Hands, we go around Shinjuku.
As far as I observed, actually Shinjuku, Harajuku, Shibuya, Ginza all has the same similarities. They all have branded products along the road. The kind of product that they sell is almost the same. Maybe it only has differences in a certain brands and store.

Matsumoto is a lot more touristy when compared to Hakuba as it is the second largest city in the Nagano Prefecture. Home to one of the oldest castles in the country along with some excellent shrines and museums, it morphs into a cherry blossom heaven during the months of March and April. While it is more of a university town, the traditional edibles available in Matsumoto, especially the 'Soba noodles', are loved by locals and travellers in equal measures.Read More

Matsumoto is a lot more touristy when compared to Hakuba as it is the second largest city in the Nagano Prefecture. Home to one of the oldest castles in the country along with some excellent shrines and museums, it morphs into a cherry blossom heaven during the months of March and April. While it is more of a university town, the traditional edibles available in Matsumoto, especially the 'Soba noodles', are loved by locals and travellers in equal measures.

Nikko truly is a magical place, because the next tale is also from this land of eternal beauty. I was handed a chit with the name of a vegan café in Nikko written in English. I walk up and down the lane twice, but unable to spot any shop with that name. I then spot a local unloading a dispatch truck, I show him the chit, hoping he would know the place. Hard luck, he did not. Good luck, he is a Japanese. Unlike what most of us would do, he did not send me away with a simply sorry. He first searched for the place on google map, figured it’s a two minute walk on the same lane I was and then took the chit from me and wrote the English word in Japanese characters, so that I can match it and identify the shop’s name board. All this took a good five-seven minutes, but that man was more than happy to help. And did I add, he did not know English, I did not understand Japanese. All you need to help someone, is intention I guess. I walk the lane for two minutes, now matching the board names with the chit in my hand and in a matter of time, I found what I was looking for, and realized the place did not have an English board at all. Thanks to the truck guy or I would have never found this place.Arigato JapanRead More

Nikko truly is a magical place, because the next tale is also from this land of eternal beauty. I was handed a chit with the name of a vegan café in Nikko written in English. I walk up and down the lane twice, but unable to spot any shop with that name. I then spot a local unloading a dispatch truck, I show him the chit, hoping he would know the place. Hard luck, he did not. Good luck, he is a Japanese. Unlike what most of us would do, he did not send me away with a simply sorry. He first searched for the place on google map, figured it’s a two minute walk on the same lane I was and then took the chit from me and wrote the English word in Japanese characters, so that I can match it and identify the shop’s name board. All this took a good five-seven minutes, but that man was more than happy to help. And did I add, he did not know English, I did not understand Japanese. All you need to help someone, is intention I guess. I walk the lane for two minutes, now matching the board names with the chit in my hand and in a matter of time, I found what I was looking for, and realized the place did not have an English board at all. Thanks to the truck guy or I would have never found this place.Arigato Japan

On my third day in Japan, which was spent in beautiful nikko, I stayed at this cozy hostel called Nikko House Sumaica. After a tiring and memorable day of sightseeing and fun, I was busy tiding my backpack sitting in the common area of the hostel. Once, I had rounded up all that needs to go in the bin, the hostel lady stopped me. She had spotted the two-day tourist Nikko pass I was about to throw in the bin. I did not realize it was a two-day pass, also I was to leave Nikko the next morning, so I decided to throw it. “Trade it with some tourist morning for half rate,” she says with a smile. I smile back and tell her, maybe she can keep it and give to some tourist at her hostel, I suggest. To be sure, so far I was offering it without any expectation of getting money for it. She then looks at her employee, a sweet 21 year old, with bright eyes, the kind of eyes filled with dreams that people have at that age. She asks me to give it to her, as the young girl plans to go for a day tour tomorrow. To be sure again, I am still happy and the idea of getting money in return for it has not even crossed my mind. The hostel lady, then herself decides the young girl can buy it from me for 500 yen. The young girl is more than happy to receive the 2500 yen pass for a discounted rate and hands me a 500 yen coin and I swear I am still looking at the girl and the hostel lady to figure out what happened.

It has been a lovely morning as I get see autumn leaves for the first time in my life in Nikko. Having lived the beauty, it is time to take a bus back to the hostel area. As I walk towards the bus stop, I see a bus approaching. Buses from this bus stop come with a lag and I did not wish to miss this one. I start running in the direction of the bus stop. The bus passes the stop and then me and zooms past. I am left with a goofy grin realizing it is not the bus that halts at this particular stand. An elderly Japanese couple waiting at the bus stop returns the smile. They tell me the next bus meant to halt at this stand will take another ten minutes. The conversation starts with which country and quickly moves to “Only one?” Given a large population in Japan does not speak English, most Japanese translate the question “Are you travelling alone?” to “Only one” and I each time answer with a big smile, “Yes, only one”.Our conversation revolves around Japan building the bullet train and how beautiful the “husband” in the couple found Bombay to be. After sometime the bus arrives, we take our seats. After a few stops, the elderly couple calls out to me again, while I am lost in nature’s beauty. “Which stop?’ the elderly man asks, “The last one”, I say. They gesture theirs is the next stop and bid me goodbye. With that smile, the autumn leave for me just got a little brighter.***I board the bullet train with my big backpack, find my seat and apologize to my co passenger for the inconvenience. She, on the other hand, helps me place the big bag, the small bag and also my latest priced possession from Japan- my umbrella. Once settled, the expected question is asked, “Only one?” I smile and repeat, “Yes, only one". She is travelling with her other four friends and seems to be having a merry time. I wonder, if I would too travel the same way in my forties, fifties with my best friends, I hope I do. As a consolation prize for travelling alone, I am offered a chocolate. I quickly accept the chocolate offered with so much affection and gobble it up. It’s only after a few minutes; I remembered what my mom said, “Do not accept food from strangers while travelling in a train.” But mom, this is Japan and its people too good to refuse.***

I want to travel to Japan.Lets googleOh cherry blossom is April-MayBut I want to travel in October, its my birthdayLets google againOh lovely, its autumn timeYay yay yay,But wait, Japan’s autumn season starts in September, but it takes a good two months before it makes an appearance in places like Tokyo and KyotoDamn it!The above conversation is what yours truly had with her own self. But, autumn has to be seen, experienced, loved and awed about. And when you desire something earnestly, the universe conspires.My blessing came in the form of Nikko. Nikko, my love. I want to have a daughter, and name her nikko, no I want to have a daughter and name her autumn. Sorry, I digress, but I hope you get my crazy love for this place.So here is how my Nikko love affair began. My flight tickets and hotel bookings were done- Tokyo, Mt fuji, Kyoto and back to Tokyo. But there was a small hitch, none of these places experience autumn in October or atleast in the first half. So, I consult travel bloggers- go to nikko they say, but not sure you will find autumn there too, they say. But anyways Nikko is beautiful, they say. It’s a risk, and I shall take it.

Line: Marunouchi Line- Shinkuju Station to Tokyo Station; Tohuku Shinkasen Line- Tokyo Station to Utsunomiya Station; Nikko Line- Imaichi StationBy Japan Railways (JR)- Take the JR Tohoku Shinkansen (from Tokyo or Ueno Station) to Utsunomiya Station and transfer to the JR Nikko Line. With a good connection at Utsunomiya, the one way trip takes about 100 minutes.After exiting the train station, head to the bus stop to catch the 9:00am bus #2A towards Yumoto Onsen. If you have a JR pass then this bus is covered in the pass, else the ticket costs ¥1,350 for one-way ride.

Nikko is most famous for Toshogu Shrine..Also Nikko offers scenic,mountainous landscapes,lakes,hot springs and hiking trails.I took a day trip,but it's not enough to see all the places around Nikko.Spend a night or two.I visited the Shrine area and the kegon waterfalls.The temple area in Nikko have three main Shrines:Toshogu,Rinnoji and futarasan. The Carvings in Toshogu is just magnificent.These all temples are walking distance from Shinkya bus station.How to reach:-I took a Yamabito Shinkansen(bullet train) from Tokyo to Utsunomiya(50 min).From Utsunomiya changed for the JR Nikko line to Nikko station.(45 min)From Nikko station,took a bus for Shinkya station(5 min).After reaching,I was walking towards Nikko Shrine area(known as Nikko National park). Suddenly I stopped as I saw Shinkyo bridge it is just beautiful view up the river.It was raining and the weather was awesome..Then I walked towards the famous Toshogu Shrine..the lavishly decorated Shrine complex consists of more than a dozen buildings set in a beautiful forest.you will be amazed to see countless wood carvings and gold leafs.It took me almost 2 hrs to visit the Shrine buildings from three monkeys carvings to Honjido hall(crying dragon). You cannot use camera in Honjido hall. there is a large painting of a dragon on the ceiling of the hall.you can hear ringing sound when two pieces of wooden are clapped directly under its head.that's why it is called as crying dragon.The clapping of the wood is frequently performed to visitors by a priest.In the main building there is a hidden praying hall.To the right of the main building there is gate which leads u to the famous Carvings of sleeping cat.There are other Shrines near by Toshogu shrines.The area is covered by Big Trees.There u can see

World Heritage: Nikkō (1 day)
Hop on a train from Tokyo early in the morning and head north to discover the grandiose sanctuary of Nikkō, lost in the middle of the mountains. Now, major tourists sights like this are always a bit painful to visit (especially in Japan where tourists love to pose in front of every. single. thing.), however this Unesco-listed site is well worth the trouble.
The sanctuaries here are a lot more extravagant than what you’ll see in the rest of Japan: you might end up feeling a bit dizzy from the hundreds of sculptures, the abundance of detail, the flashy colours, and all that gold. You probably won’t feel touched by the spiritual power of the place that much, but dayum! you’ll definitely be impressed. Bring a jumper (and an umbrella), it can get chilly and wet up there in the mountains.